UN High Commissioner for Refugees deplores shooting of UNHCR staff member in Goma, eastern DRC

Geneva, 21 May 2012 - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has expressed great sadness at the killing of a UNHCR staff member who died on Saturday morning in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rocky Kalume Makabuza sustained gun shot wounds to his stomach in an attack at his home by unknown assailants on Friday at around 20:45 pm local time.

Rocky, who was aged 38, was a Field Safety Assistant for UNHCR at its office in Rutshuru. He was taken to hospital after the shooting, but succumbed to his wounds. Neither the identity of his assailants nor the motives for the attack have been established.

"I deplore the shooting of a colleague and offer my sincere condolences to his family. We do not know who is responsible for Rocky's death or why they attacked him. I hope that the authorities will do their best to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice," said Guterres.

Rocky had been working for UNHCR since 2009. He is survived by his wife and three children.

For further information, please contact:

• In Goma, Simplice Kpandji, mobile +243 81 833 13 22
• In Geneva, Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, mobile +41 79 249 3483
• In Geneva, Leo Dobbs, mobile +41 79 883 6347